Program Overview

MPhil/PhD in Agricultural Science and Technology

The University of Lincoln offers a research-based MPhil/PhD program in Agricultural Science and Technology, providing advanced research opportunities in transdisciplinary research combining studies on agriculture, people, and technology.

Programme Overview

This program brings together the opportunity to study scientific, technological, and social innovations and how they can be developed, applied, and reimagined to address global agricultural challenges at local or international scales. The program provides a comprehensive mixture of theory, knowledge, and skill development, depending on the research areas of focus, which could include crop phenotyping, precision agriculture, agri-robotics, applications of AI across the food production system, regenerative agriculture, weed science, soil and water, natural resource management, sustainable agroforestry systems, controlled environment agriculture, food systems, governance, and socio-political aspects of resilient, sustainable agriculture, and wider food production.

Key Features

• Conduct independent, original, and academically significant research
• Benefit from training courses to develop key research skills
• Supervision and support from academic staff
• Present at talks and seminars to showcase your work
• Enrol in January or October each year
• Agriculture and Forestry at Lincoln is ranked in the top 250 overall

How You Study

Over the course of your PhD, you will be expected to complete an original piece of research that makes a substantial contribution to the existing scholarship on and knowledge of the subject under scrutiny. You will be guided throughout this process by a team of well-published supervisors, from whom you will receive feedback and advice. Your PhD project might cross disciplinary boundaries and focus on multiple subject areas.

How You Are Assessed

A PhD is usually awarded based on the quality and originality of a student's thesis and their ability to present and successfully defend the chosen research topic in an oral examination (viva voce). Students are also expected to demonstrate how their research findings have contributed to knowledge in the subject area or developed existing theory or understanding.

Entry Requirements

Students should possess at least a second-class honours degree in a relevant subject such as Crop and Plant Sciences, Agricultural Technology, Horticulture, Agriculture, or Ecology. Overseas students will be required to demonstrate English language proficiency equivalent to IELTS 6.5 overall, with a minimum of 6.0 in each element.

Programme Fees

The fees vary depending on the course, mode of study, and whether you are a UK or international student. Research students may be required to pay additional fees in addition to cover the cost of specialist resources, equipment, and access to any specialist collections that may be required to support their research project.

Funding Your Research

There are various options available to support your postgraduate research, from Master's and Doctoral Loans, to research studentship opportunities. You can also find out more about how to pay your fees and access support from advisors.

Career Development

A doctoral qualification can be the capstone of academic achievement and often marks the beginning of a career in academia or research. A research programme provides the opportunity to become a true expert in your chosen field, while developing a range of valuable transferable skills that can support your career progression.

Research Areas

The Lincoln Institute for Agri-food Technology (LIAT) has a growing reputation in crop and soil science research with access to an excellent 400 ha research farm at the Riseholme campus constituting arable, livestock, woodland, and watercourses. The team is actively working towards net-zero agriculture, and reducing chemical inputs in farming through precision agriculture and non-chemical weed control. Crop phenotyping, soil and irrigation management, and selective harvesting of strawberries are just some of the examples demonstrating the LIAT's offering of practical sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions for improving farming practices.